Menopause and My mother

My mother is experiencing a number of symptoms which I truly feel are directly related to menopause. Symptoms include vaginal itching, depression, irregularity of her menstrual cycle, inability to sleep and extreme eratic behavior.  She feels that hormone replacement therapy can't be an option due to her excessive smoking.  My question to you would be, can she use hormone replacement therapy as a solution to her problem or would the use of cigarrettes prohibit her being a candidate for that therepy.  The vaginal itching above all is a problem for her and also her inability to sleep is also a chronic problem.  She is also seeing a therapist for her extreme depression.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Christina

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I am not a gynecologist, but I have never heard of smoking being a contra-indication for hormone replacement therapy, which defintely is something to seriously consider.

[Bea]

Hi Cristina, I am a heavy smoker and have been in hormone for hormone replachement therap for five years withoug any signs of side efeects.